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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. toast — bread
  3. rest — a break
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. content — the amount
  6. bound — tied together
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. track — a song
  11. board — a committee
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. stand — to bear
  15. bound — certain
  16. bound — obliged
  17. content — happy
  18. board — to get on
  19. rest — what's left
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. rest — what's left
  23. track — a path
  24. stand — on your feet

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com